Inclusive new sports facility opens in Surrey to support young disabled adults keep active
A brand new £200,000 sports facility has been launched at The Orpheus Centre in Surrey thanks to donations from local businesses and supporters.
The multi use games area (MUGA) will give the disabled students at the college the opportunity to stay fit, learn more about exercise and develop life skills for a healthy future.
Orpheus is a specialist further education college and charity in Godstone, set up by musician and songwriter Sir Richard Stilgoe, which works to support young disabled adults, who are passionate about the arts, to learn independence skills. Helping the students to take an active role in managing their own physical and mental health is an important part of the organisation’s work.
The MUGA was made possible thanks to grants from the Peter Harrison Foundation, Manly Trust, Tesco Bags for Life, HSBC Private Bank, AXA, Community Foundation for Surrey, Edward Gostling Foundation, Paphitis Charitable Trust and Tandridge Council.
A Christmas fundraising appeal in 2018, including The Big Give, which doubled the donations, also helped to secure money for the project.
The games area was officially opened by Mr Michael More-Molyneux, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, who was joined by Chairman of Tandridge Council Cllr Simon Morrow, Orpheus Chief Executive Dr Rachel Black and the college’s performance group.
Orpheus Chief Executive Dr Rachel Black said: “It’s been very special to see the outdoor gym finally completed and open to the students. Being able to exercise safely using the right equipment in an encouraging and supportive environment will have lifelong physical and mental benefits for the students as they move towards living independently in the future. ”
The outdoor gym has been specially designed to provide an inclusive and full body exercise facility including parallel bars, cross trainer, hand and spinning bikes and the right equipment for leg raises, shoulder presses, sit ups and dips. The area also includes a basketball court which will be used for events and outdoor learning activities.
Orpheus is the only organisation offering personalised study, supported housing and personal care all on the same site. Students are aged 18-25 and during their three years of study at Orpheus, they learn independence and life skills, develop their interest in the arts as well as completing work experience placements in preparation for employment when they leave.
